In the spring, when flows are up on Washington’s White Salmon River and water is spilled at Condit Dam, there’s enough to attract rafters to a stretch that’s otherwise dewatered.

Troy Columbian photo

Condit Dam was built in 1913 on the White Salmon River, 3.3 miles upstream from the Columbia. It is 125 feet tall. Most of the river flow runs through a pipeline for three quarters of a mile downstream to a powerhouse, mostly dewatering that stretch of the river. But in the spring, when flows are up and water is spilled at the dam, there’s enough to float that stretch. Once the dam is gone, that stretch will have enough flow to use a much greater time of year.